Hikkaduwa is paradise for the turtle lovers . In the beach , you can see big turtles , mostly coming for food . Hikkaduwa is also famous for snorkelling and diving for coral watching . You can see coral structure and colourful fish here . It is a small city , situated in the way between Galle and Colombo , beside the shore of India Ocean . In my mind this is the best sea destination in whole Sri Lanka for looking colorful fish and big turtles .
In Sri Lanka , there is actually five species of turtle found as green sea turtle, olive Ridley sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, loggerhead sea turtle and the goliath leatherback turtle . I personally see green sea turtle , this are normally 5 feet in length and weights up to 200 kg , normally. Male turtle never left sea and come to beach , only female turtles come to shore for laying eggs .
Local guides said me , this turtles are like Pet Animal . They said “they feed this turtle for 30 years so this turtle roam around this place ” . I was astonished that , even they named those turtles . They collect seaweed to lure those turtles . In this area you can also feed this animal and touch it . Carapace of this turtles are slippery , and lots of Algae on it . If they spot a turtle you will find peoples gathered around it . On this time those turtle become like a circus animal . People should be more careful , for their fun they should not disturb the animal .
You can also see different colored fish in this beachside sea . But little distant from shore there is good coral shelter where by making snorkelling you can see lots of colourful fishes . The fish having different colored strips on their body . I don’t know swimming , so I wear the Life jacket and snorkelling here just catching the boat . First I was very frightened , But after sometime I was enjoying this activity . Frankly speaking I don’t see coral structure but enjoyed the sea surface and colourful fishes . Some areas are so shallow that you can touch the rock behind but my guide said that there is some sea lichen on those rocks which may cause skin problem. He Charged 2000 LKR for a life Jacket , snorkelling gear , manual Catamaran Boat and 1 Hour time in sea . I was satisfied with the Activity . It was a completely new experience in my travel history .
Also You can enjoy the long beach here . Along the beach there is coral reef . Lots of western peoples come here in winter for sun and heat . Here in the beach you can see that small children play with sand and make small room or building with their parents or friends .
Near the beach there is a driving school . They will teach you Driving and arrange all your equipment and taken you to the deep see for Driving . Here they said me , even if you don’t know swimming , you can drive . First they will teach you swimming in a small pool and then they will taken you to the actual spot . They Have speedboat of their own .
There is also lots of local turtle hatchery . Here you can see different types of turtles in the protected enviournment.
How to reach to Hikkaduwa ?
Hikkaduwa is situated in between galle and colombo besides A2 Highway . Mostly Matara to colombo and Galle to colombo buses will go through this city . From Galle also direct buses available toward Hikkaduwa . so from this city there is direct buses but Bus station is little far from the turtle point . So you can hire a bike or tuk-tuk to reach to the turtle point .
Also by train you can reach to Hikkaduwa from colombo /galle /matara . All Trains from Colombo Fort to Galle / Matara will stop here but trains are very less and there is frequent cancellation now a days . In rail app it is showing there is train but actually no train . So best to enquire in previous day before the journey , rather than upset in the station . Bus Stand and the Railway Station are nearby .
There is plentous Hotels , dormitory and villa present in this place , so no problem to stay here . Also near the bus stand there is stong presence of lots of budget to expensive restaurants , those restaurant sells egg paratha , normal paratha , fish/meat currey , vegetable curry , samosa , hoppers and kottu roti and many more sri lankan items .
